Reworking Vintage Dresses

Vintage shopping has always treated me well. Dresses and skirts from the 50’s through the 80’s fit pearshape bodies much better than modern clothing. Women of the time were seen as more desirable with fuller, hourglass figures so the clothing is roomier and narrower in the areas to fit the pearshaped woman.

This dress was an amazing find from one of my favorite new vintage shops in Charlotte, the Sleepy Poet. I was rummaging through the racks and saw this vibrant pattern and knew something could be done. Off the rack this dress was a sheath (a style that never fits me in today’s modern clothing), though it fit my hips perfectly. Unfortunately I forgot to take a before picture but just imagine the fabric going straight down my sides rather than nipping in at the waist. Some quick, cheap alterations resulted in this fun Summer dress.

Along with slimming the sides I took the hem up a few inches to make it even more contemporary, and to balance out the length of the sleeves. I knew this was too flashy to wear to work so I decided to have some fun with it. I heavily debated chopping off the sleeves entirely, and even removing the collar to make it more modern but I’m happy I decided to keep them and retain its true vintage vibe.

For a total of $24 including alterations, I couldn’t be happier with this piece. I picked up another dress during this haul and can’t wait to review that one soon.

Do you shop for vintage clothing? Do you find that it fits you better?